Juventus winger Federico Chiesa reflected on his struggles

On January 9, 2022, during the 32nd minute of the Bianconeri's 4-3 victory, Giallorossi defender Chris Smalling made a strong charge on the 25-year-old Italian winger. He was confined to a few cameo appearances in the early part of this season due to the injury that followed, which kept him out of action for more than 10 months. Chiesa is already beginning to regain his previous level of fitness and started in Juventus' 1-0 Coppa Italia victory against Lazio, 13 months after suffering a cruciate ligament rupture.

Chiesa first remembered how he felt in January 2022, following the terrible injury. When Smalling entered the game as I was ready to kick the ball, my knee started to ache strangely. I initially believed I had ripped a tendon as I fell to the ground and felt my knee give way.